Tensions rising ahead of Nurmagomedov and McGregor clash

Things are heating up in the UFC ahead of October’s massive clash between unbeaten Khabib Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor.

The two camps have been busy finalising their preparations for the blockbuster contest at the T-Mobile Arena in Paradise, Nevada.

Nurmagomedov (26-0) is still rated as the slight favourite with bookmakers to retain his lightweight title, but there is likely be a flood of money wagered on McGregor (21-3) closer to fight-night.

One man who is in no doubt about the outcome is McGregor’s father, Tony, who has predicted his son will win in the first round.

“I’ve looked at this every which way,” he told Ariel Helwani’s MMA Show on ESPN. “Even up until last night I was looking at Khabib’s fights. He’s slow, he’s sloppy, he’s predictable. There’s nothing in Khabib’s arsenal that Conor fears, nothing.

“Conor’s camp is possibly the most awesome camp to date. He’s in peak physical condition. His power is unbelievable. Khabib is too slow, he won’t see this coming. Conor’s power, Conor’s speed, Conor’s precision – Khabib has nothing to counter that.

“He’s going to be gone in the first round, without a doubt. There’s no way Khabib is going to survive until the second round in this one.”

McGregor’s mixed martial arts record suggests his father could be onto something, with the Irishman winning 13 of his previous contests in the opening round.

However, Nurmagomedov is quietly confident that he will retain his unbeaten record having reeled off impressive victories over Al Iaquinta and Edson Barboza in his last two fights.

He believes McGregor’s two-year absence from the UFC will count against him when he steps back into the Octagan.

“I’m gonna go crazy on the 6th October. I’m going to make him tired and make him look bad, this is my plan. He cannot fight all 25 minutes. Maybe he thinks he can knock me out – we will see.”

With tensions rising between the pair, the fight promises to be a classic. Follow BettingTop10 for the latest updates and odds in the run-up to the contest.

About the Author

John Abram is a passionate sports fanatic who follows all things NBA, NFL, NHL, NCAAF, NCAAB. A former sports trader, John has an unquestioned thirst for sports knowledge and often fills his time playing fantasy or placing wagers online.